Soul of a Human

Mors plan went off with barely a hitch. Stan and his wife just arrived later than expected, but after they got settled in, the reason was revealed. He had to stay longer and got scolded by his leader for being friendly with intruders and putting his master in a bad spot. Worse, he was docked a week of pay for his out-of-turn speaking. Saphine wasn't good at showing concern for Stan's troubles, but the boys made up for that easily, Mor's open personality and Orth's calm demeanor lulled Stan into security, and the provided beverages did the rest. Throughout the evening, they discussed many things, and Mor and Orth turned the discussion to Clare.

"It was too bad we couldn't see Clare." Mor lamented.

"Indeed, we traveled very far for nothing, I guess," Orth added.

"But well, if her father doesn't want us to see her because she is busy with training, there is nothing we can do." Mor continued.

"Thaaths, not entirely trueh." Stan slurred after far too many drinks.

°Lightweight... He only had four!° The human grumbled.

°Shut it and be happy! It just makes everything easier.° Mor chided, and the human shut up again.

"What do you mean?" Orth asked, concerned.

"The mashter was dishpleashed with Lady Clare," Stan mumbled. "That'sh why he sent her away."

"To where?" Mor asked, alarmed.

"Ah, you wouldn't knohw. The Lady ish going to bond! We're very happy for her, bhut she seemed shad when it wash time for her to leave." Stan continued blabbering.

The friends did know that already, though Mor had filled them in, but now the interesting thing was to whom.

"Really?" Mor asked. "Can you tell us who the lucky guy is? We would want to congratulate him." Mor said, but he thought he could Orth hear mumble something far more sinister. He shrugged and put it down to imagination.

"Yesh, you would want to do that. We're nhot allowed to thalk about it though." Stan told them.

"Pretty please? We won't tell anyone where we heard it." Mor begged, filling Stan a fifth drink.

Stan looked at the new drink, and took a sip, then shrugged.

"Why not. You sheem nice enough, leht me think about iht fohr a second. Well, it ish a great honor for the Chelestine fahmily after all. Also I hear the sehcond sohn of the Celestite fahmily is nice enough." Stan murmured and then seemingly made up his mind.

"Sorry, buht still cahn't tell. I really don't want tho lose my job." He continued with a sorry expression.

"I see," Mor said, and Orth had to hide his devilish grin.

"Too bad, but I guess nothing we can do," Mor added while Saphine looked at them in disbelief.

In another room, Sophie talked to Amy Larimark, and they watched the unfolding disaster.

"Who's idea was it to get my husband drunk?" Amy asked.

"It was the idea of my boy." Sophie beamed with pride.

"Very smart." Amy acknowledged, and Sophie instantly liked the woman much more.

"I was told you also were an Agaton?" Sophie asked.

"Yes, but I was always an outlier in that family. They are too rowdy for me. So the quiet life with my husband suits me well." Amy explained, just as another woman sat down with them.

"True, we're living on the same isle, but you never show up to any family gatherings," Emilia Agaton, their helpful hostess, said, joining in.

"Where's the rest of your family? I thought they wanted to stay." Sophie asked Emilia, and the woman gave a sly grin.

"I couldn't let those clowns interfere with such a delicate plan." Emilia joked, and the three women laughed.

"But as you know, the kids are still in school, and I just sent my husband off with his buddies. Meaning he will probably come crawling back in the early mornings." Emilia continued.

"Right, I forgot. Mor came home with his friends earlier because something happened on the Amethyst isle and they had to end the year early." Saphine said.

"Interesting," Emilia said. "Do you know anything more?"

"Sadly, no. Mor told me the teachers had handled it, and the students weren't told anything more." Sophie lied.

"Nothing new. The nobles are always hiding something." Amy sighed, and the other women nodded in agreement.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, but now that my husband has spilled his secret and your little investigators seem to get restless, I think we should take our leave," Amy said with a smile.

"Yes, it was very nice to meet you. How about next time you come to the big gathering? Aero is hosting a family festival on Diamond Isle for our returning kids," Sophie said, smiling, and adding, "This includes you as well, Emilia."

"I'll think about it, Stan and I don't have kids of our own, but I guess meeting the family isn't a bad thing." Amy thought for a second.

"We can travel together, save on the costs." Emilia offered.

"Yes, maybe. If so, see you there, Sophie." Amy said and went to gather up her drunk husband.

"Come on, dear. Let's get you to bed," she said, and her husband murmured something.

"I don't want." He grumbled. "The kids are fhun."

"No, no, time for us to leave." She insisted.

"Can we help?" Mor asked.

"Yes, you could. Can you help me get him into our chariot? That would be really great," Amy said, and Mor nodded.

"No problem." He supported the drunk man with his body and, seemingly without effort, dragged him along.

Amy stood there for a second, surprised at the boy's strength, but then hustled after them. After that, the three friends met up again for another planning session, this time including Sophie.

"Great, we have our information," Mor said, smiling.

°Time to kick down more doors?° The human asked and was promptly ignored.

"Right, so tomorrow, we will pay them a visit," Orth stated.

"I still can't believe that actually worked. But how do we go about the next part?" Saphine asked.

"Yes... If we barge in like today, we're in real trouble. This is now high nobility, almost on par with you two." Mor said.

"Almost, yes. But we're not adults yet, so technically, the Lord and Lady Celestite are above our standing, and for Orth, it would probably stay that way." Saphine mused.

"That was unnecessary," Orth grumbled but knew Saphine was right.

"Can't you just ask for a meeting?" Mor asked, and Saphine thought about it.

"We could, but from experience, an answer could take days." She said and added. "Still can't talk to Clare?"

"No, something is wrong. I know it." Mor grumbled.

"Maybe I can help." Sophie joined the discussion.

"How?" Saphine asked.

"Well, I was once nobility and am pretty famous. Maybe it is enough to gather their interest? Expediting the whole process?" Sophie offered, and Mor shrugged.

"Seems like a worthwhile gamble. If it doesn't work, we can try your plan, Saphine, and then we still have plan C." He said.

"Plan C?" Orth asked.

"Abducting Clare," Mor stated, and everyone else looked at him, shocked.

"Are you stupid?" Saphine asked, and this time, she was entirely in harmony with Sophie.

"Tell me you're joking!" His mother demanded.

°Can we make that plan B? I like it.° The human offered.

°No. This is our last resort.° Mor stated.

°Kill joy...° The human grumbled.

"How do you even think that will work? Can you even guess how many mages there are!" Orth blurted out.

"Yes, many. But I don't need to fight all of them. I just need to get in and out without being detected." Mor said.

"And how do you do that?!" His mother chided him.

"Indeed! You will be killed and instantly detected. There are probably wards for things like robbers," Saphine added.

°Easy peasy because soul-kin are wimps and only rely on magic bullshit.° The human said.

"Easy. Because no one would expect someone to enter by "mundane" means. So I won't use any magic for that," Mor explained.

"That... is crazy, but crazy enough to work," Orth mumbled.

"DON'T encourage him!" Sophie scolded Orth.

"Yes! This is no game. He could DIE!" Saphine added.

°It's cute how in tune those two are now.° The human chuckled.

°Yes, they usually constantly fight, but now...° Mor agreed.

"She's right!" Sophie shouted. "I would rather see you bonded to that girl than executing your stupid plan!"

"I don't want him... it's not important right now." Saphine mumbled, and the look Orth threw her conveyed only one thing. "Liar."

"Yes, I know. It's just an option. We will try your ideas first." Mor gave in, calming the two women.

"Then let's go there together tomorrow." Saphine decided and left the discussion quickly.

They spent a mostly restful night and were ready to implement their next plan in the morning.